In any chemical reaction, it’s crucial to identify the reactants and products to understand the transformation that occurs. Let’s say we have the following chemical equation as an example:
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
In this reaction:
- Reactants: These are the substances that undergo the chemical change. In our example, the reactants are:
- 2H2 (Hydrogen gas)
- O2 (Oxygen gas)
- Products: These are the substances that are produced as a result of the chemical reaction. In our example, the product is:
- 2H2O (Water)
Thus, in the reaction, 2 moles of hydrogen gas react with 1 mole of oxygen gas to produce 2 moles of water. Understanding the labels of reactants and products helps in balancing equations and predicting the results of chemical reactions.